I am having dilemma about what summer clothes should I pack and what should stay here, LOL! Anyway, I guess I can just work on that ;).
Way to go for packing!
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The first box (on the right) was dispatched yesterday (July 24). Mostly, it contains my clothes and other home needs I will be using in the Philippines for my upcoming trip. I planned to be travelling light and no luggage to carry in November since I am alone. Besides, I hate carrying big luggages, not, unless my husband is with me :). I am sending 3 boxes c/o Cargo Plus. So, I still have 2 boxes to fill up.
I am having dilemma about what summer clothes should I pack and what should stay here, LOL! Anyway, I guess I can just work on that ;). Way to go for packing!
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It was a good thing to think that mom's surgeon and the nursing staff agreed to have photos taken during her operation. She had undergone a hip bone surgery last June 1, 2010 and thank God that she was able to survive the ordeal...with flying colors! LOL. We were praying all about it before we finally agreed to let her go on the surgical table. Thank God for all her doctors as well, the attending physician, the nurses, etc. who were with her all through out until after her operation. It was so tough...emotionally and psychologically draining to think about...come to think of it if you are 9,000 miles away from your loved one who needs your support and encouragement when an illness strikes! The financial aspect was a big challenge as well. But it wasn't a big deal for a life of a loved one. We were drained out of our pockets, but God is always good. Our prayers are always being heard. His blessings are always close to us. All we can say is an uncountable thank you to Him up there who was our mom's greatest doctor and healer. PTL!
On the other hand, we are always grateful and thankful for our family who helped mom on her bedside care, leaded by our beloved "tata" Joan :)...until now. We love you all. Today, is aunt Pat and Tanya's departure back to Texas. Hopefully, Tanya can still come back once she'll get through a job in DC. That will be worth looking forward to. (yey!)
A brunch treat to our visitors?...steamed crabs! We had ordered at "Salerno's" which is only a couple minutes drive from the place to home. It was such a challenge how you would be pounding the crab shell just to take out the crab meat, whew! It's a trick you have to learn if you are a first time eater, lol!
An early dinner treat was set at mom Phyllis house later that day and one of the highlights was the meeting of mom and aunt Pat, their meeting after 54 long years! Aunt Pat and Tanya arrived home later in the afternoon and had their dinner with us. As Tanya called us on the phone, she said both of them were already starving while on their way close to us. Thank God for pre-cooked meals, LOL!...although Craig got to share his tasty home-cooked grilled steaks! Turned out to be an awesome dinner for everybody with a treat of red wine for the visitors ;).
I guess this is not yet too late to greet you all a Happy New Year! My apology for the long hibernation, but this part of the season is still a busy time for me and hubby. Now, our updates:
TRIP: We are preparing for our upcoming trip on January 27 til the 29th for San Antonio, Texas. As usual, we are requesting your humble prayers for a safety trip for both of us. We are not confirming this, but this might be the last trip we will do this year regarding hubby's symposium trips at work. SSA-headquarters is changing to a new symposium leadership training topics and hubby's not sure if he will still be needed in the symposium since he already moved out from the Office of Training. We'll keep you up to date regarding this. The other piece of good news is that we already set up a date for our 3-week vacation to the Philippines in April this year ...(yay) :). The dates are yet to be confirmed as to hubby's work schedules. My FACEBOOK: I had been keeping my profile silent for two years in here. Now I am just starting in making it more active once again. I like the cool features, better than two years ago, LOL!. Please join me in [email protected]. WEATHER: Winter season is making me sick! I just checked the weather updates today and it says 9F!!?...I just become so lazy (and depressed?) when it gets too cold! Don't wanna go out, don't like moving much and all I want is to sit and sleep :)). I'm still struggling to overcome the "laziness" effect of winter on me. Why I hate going out? I don't wanna wear 4 layers of clothings and go shopping for just 2 blocks away from home, come back and takes me time to remove the layerings :(. Hope the year 2009 will create more blessings and happiness to all of you. Ciao! :). Christmas was not only challenging for me, it was a season of catching the worst "bug" ever since I came to America. The bug celebrated Christmas with me until New Year. So, that means I had been "barking" from time to time for more than a week, LOL!
Thank God, I am feeling better now. I was deprived of sleep for the past few days because of the cough, but I now am getting good sleep for the new year 2009 :)). Anyway, after Christmas, we thought of going to Longwood Gardens (one of our favorite place to hang out) in Pennyslvania to watch the Christmas lights. We didn't expect it was much of a challenge to get a parking spot that night of December 26th. Our parking was far away from the garden where a bus had to pick us up. But the Longwood Gardens staff did a wonderful job! Kudos! :). We enjoyed the beauty of the garden lighted with sparkling colored lights at night...no wonder, one of the staff told us they receive at least 15,000 visitors every night for the holiday season! Whew!!! We went home early afternoon of December 27th, and I was knocked down on bed! LOL! It was all worth it. I trully enjoyed the spirit of christmas as well. Thank you Lord...we are so blessed! :). Haven't been around lately...I'm sure some of you knew the reasons, and for those who were unaware, you will know as you read along! :).
Anyway, our christmas preparations was tough and both I and hubby were so much in pressure to beat the deadline for only 10 days to complete everything before Christmas day! Honestly, we didn't have any rest coming home from our 8-day trip in California, Nevada and Arizona respectively. We arrived back home on Dec. 13, and completely settled down morning of Dec. 14, and catched up for church in the afternoon, still on our jet lags. We still didn't have any single christmas decor at home...not even the tree was up, not started our christmas shopping for gifts, etc... Monday (December 15), I started to get panicky, hubby had to go work, (he had tough day there), and the house turned into a mess for all the preps I did, while we decided to shop nightime, and the weekend. (Thank God, all was done smoothly). Our gift wrapping session was done separately. (I did mine upstairs, and hubby did his own down the basement). I couldn't join him since he said he'll be wrapping things for me :). Our wrappings were completely done exactly at Christmas eve! Yey! at least we beat the deadline! LOL! The next day was exciting. I woke up 11:30am and hubby said it's time to open gifts! As usual, excitement comes with me at this time of the year :). We usually start it with a brief bible devotions and prayer before opening our gifts. The Gifts: I gave 12 gifts for hubby...(thank God, he loved all of them :)). And I had 13 gifts from him. Usually, the first part of the day is I and hubby taking turns in opening our gifts under our tree at home. The second part will be a traditional Christmas dinner at mom's house after which we take turns in opening our gifts as well. Both I and hubby gave 22 gifts for mom, George and Jesse. They are giving us many presents every Christmas as well which make most of our day exciting! I received 12 gifts from mom, 8 gifts from George, 1 from Jesse plus gifts from hubby... It's more than 30 gifts!!!!Overwhelming, isn't it? That's how Christmas is in the family! The fact that shopping for clothes is getting expensive nowadays, it's as good as I had shopped for clothes for the whole year! ...all gifts! at no extra cost! Thanks a lot mom and George! Hope you had all the merriest Christmas ever! HAPPY NEW YEAR one and all! It's already past 1 in the morning, still tired and exhausted from a non-stop work for our christmas preparations.
We only had 10 days to prepare everything before Christmas since we came back from our trip. So, I had tough days, from setting up the christmas tree, getting the hanging ornaments back to their hanging spots, (I had 3 days digging the box for this), shopping for gifts, gift wrapping....more shopping, more gifts, and more wrapping until wee hours in the morning {{{yawn!!}}}! I also included some things for our next balikbayan box :). I want to get it completed before we go home to the Philippines on April and at the same time be able to be there when the box arrives! Thank God, we had half of the gifts given away! It's nice to feel and know we are sharing our blessings...a great fulfillment :). I am still less than halfway done. Please help me pray for good health. It seems my body is reacting towards stress. I got this sore throat that becomes unbearable during the night that makes me cough...disturbing. Hope you all have a blessed Christmas! I actually woke up super late today! I had to work on the new church website with a new domain, so it is always challenging :)....as late as 3 AM!
Before I woke up, the first words that came out from my mouth..."thank you Lord" for giving me another bountiful year...it's my birthday, and it's snowing!" My husband greeted me early in the morning with a birthday song (with his own tune..LOL!) and a cake on bed! I guess I was blowing the candles in a wrong direction, because I was really super sleepy!...so we decided to have another second candle blowing tonight, with photos :)). Thank you Lord! |
AuthorI am a Filipina wife, an amateur writer and a blogger, and author of this site, inspired by my husband with God as the only source of our strength and wisdom. Archives
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